HOW TO CONTACT THE SOCIAL SECURITY …

HOW TO CONTACT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA), MAKE AN

APPOINTMENT and FIND INFORMATION ONLINE

By

Call SSA¡¯s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, between 7am and 7pm, Monday

Telephone through Friday. If busy, you can leave a message and Social Security will return

your call usually within 1 hour. If you have a touch-tone telephone, recorded

information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and

holidays.

If you have a problem or question, try SSA¡¯s toll-free telephone number first. Their

telephone representatives will either help you or put you in contact with your local

office, if needed.

To make an appointment in your local office DO NOT CALL THAT OFFICE. Local

offices do not make their own appointments. Instead, call the toll-free number

1-800-772-1213. Social Security schedules appointments 2-4 weeks in the future.

Keep in mind: You may ask for a telephone appointment.

If you are hearing impaired, call SSA¡¯s toll-free TTY/TDD number, 1-800-3250778 between 7am and 7pm, Monday through Friday. You may request a

reasonable accommodation when communicating with SSA. For more information

about your rights go to: people/deaf/

Find Your

Local

Office

Many local telephone directories list local offices under ¡°Social Security¡±. If you

have Internet access, you can find your local office by going to the Social Security

Office Online Locator at: locator. Enter your postal zipcode

to get the address, telephone number, office hours, and directions to your local

office.

Most SSA offices are open from 9am ¨C 4pm. Many SSA offices close at 12pm on

Wednesdays. All observe federal holidays.

By Mail

If you have been unable to resolve a problem after calling the SSA toll-free

telephone number or after contacting your local office, you may write to the

Office of Public Inquiries:

Social Security Administration Office of Public Inquiries

6401 Security Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

Internet

Access

SSA¡¯s website, Social Security Online, is located at

Links that may be of interest to individuals with disabilities or the community

serving persons with disabilities:

pubs/ -- This site provides access to social security publications on

a wide range of topics (most are in pdf format; some are in audio format or

Spanish).

forms/ -- This site provides access to most forms used to apply for

benefits or appeal decisions and when conducting any social security business.

disability -- This site provides comprehensive information

on SSA¡¯s disability benefits programs.

work -- This site provides information on SSA¡¯s Ticket to

Work program and your option to work while receiving benefits.

TIPS FOR FINDING HELP

If you need help completing a benefit application or appeal form consider

contacting a trusted family member or friend, a case manager or social worker,

a counselor, a non-profit disability organization, a legal aid center, or a Center for

Independent

Living

(CIL). To

find

the

nearest

CIL

go

to:

cbs/CILslisting.htm. Social Security can also help. To obtain this

help make an appointment in a local office several weeks before a deadline by

calling the SSA toll free number 1-800-772-1213. Bring all necessary information.

If you need representation at a social security hearing consider contacting one

of these organizations for a referral in your community:

National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives

(Attorney Referral Service) 1-800-431-2804

National Association of Disability Representatives

(Non-Attorney Referral Service) 1-800-747-6131

To understand your rights see other Social Security self-help guides at our website:

social-security-self-help

disAbility Law Center of Virginia, 1512 Willow Lawn Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23235 (804) 225-2042 (local) and

TTY (800) 552-3962 (statewide) or for publications go to: publication/

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download